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How often do you spend each day worrying about members of your family or close friends? I recently heard someone say that we often spend more time worrying about these people rather than entrusting them to God's care. You may be thinking about your child that is in their freshman year of college or your kindergartner entering public school this year for the first time, or your elderly parent moving into an assisted living or care facility. I think that I often spend a lot of time worrying about my family and close friends. I know that I need to spend more of this time entrusting them into God's care.

When I thought about this, I was reminded of Moses' mother who placed Moses into a basket and sent him down the river, trusting that God would take care of him. You know what happens with Moses and how his life is changed forever, when he is found by Pharaoh's daughter in the basket.

So how can we really trust God with the situations and people that are closest to us? What can you do differently today to say to God, "I trust you"? I would invite you to stop yourself the next time you start worrying, which may be later today. When you stop, shift your worry into a prayer to God asking to be open to trust and willing to listen. Often times, the less time we spend worrying, the more time we have to be ready for how God is using us to care for others.

It was by faith that Moses' parents hid him for three months when he was born. They saw that God had given them an unusual child, and they were not afraid to disobey the king's command. -Hebrews 11:23

This passage in Hebrews takes the time to note many of the situations in scripture where God's people had faith and trust in God. It begins with this definition of what trust and faith really are:
The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd. -Hebrews 11:1-2 The Message

Prayer for Today

Faithful God, help me to keep my worries at bay as we experience transitions with members of our family. Give me a confident faith to believe You are always with them. In Jesus' Name, Amen.